Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin injury updates: Commanders make final decision on star players’ status vs. Falcons

The Washington Commanders are dealing with injuries to two of their best players at the moment. Ahead of their Week 4 showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) and wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quad) have been on the injury report.

On Friday, the duo missed practice, putting their status in jeopardy for this weekend’s game. We have an official ruling now — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, both Daniels and McLaurin are out against the Falcons.

“Jayden Daniels is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Falcons due to his knee injury. Commanders QB Marcus Mariota will start against his former Falcons team,” Schefter posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “… And Terry McLaurin also has been ruled out for Sunday.”

Alas, Daniels missed last weekend’s game with the injury, which led to veteran backup Marcus Mariota making the start. He’ll get the nod once again in Week 4. As for McLaurin, he’s hauled in three passes for 74 yards prior to his injury.

Earlier this week, Schefter provided some further insight into McLaurin’s injury on Get Up. Dealing with a quad issue coming out of Week 3, he did not practice all week. The writing was on the wall for him to miss Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

“In that same game, the Commanders look like they very well could be without Terry McLaurin, who suffered a quad injury on Sunday against the Raiders. Left the game, has been undergoing additional testing on that quad,” Schefter said.

Among several names on the injury report for Washington, aside from McLaurin and Daniels, was Jacory Croskey-Merritt, the team’s leading rusher, was also listed and did not practice with a knee issue earlier this week. His status will be one to monitor as well.

Regardless, even though Mariota threw him the ball rather than Daniels, McLaurin had one of his better games this season in the victory over the Raiders in Week 3. He posted three receptions for 74 yards, averaging nearly 25 yards per catch. The backup quarterback will miss him against the Falcons.

More on the Washington Commanders, injuries to Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin

“He said his knee feels better, but it will be a doctor’s decision about whether or not he plays on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons,” Schefter previously stated. “He’s leaving it in the hands of others. We’ll see what they say.”

“If he can’t go, Marcus Mariota would play again. And Marcus Mariota played very well on Sunday in the Commanders’ victory over the Raiders.”

Daniels underwent an MRI on his knee following Washington’s loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night of Week 2. Ultimately, it turned out that he had a sprained knee.

There had been some hope that he wouldn’t miss time at all, but that didn’t happen with the team choosing to play it safe. Now, he’ll miss another game as he looks to get back to normal for the Commanders.

— On3’s Sam Gillenwater and Daniel Hager contributed to this report.